If you think a caddie’s job is to keep up and shut up, you haven’t played golf in South Korea.
Like many aspects of the game in this golf-mad country — clubhouse design, course maintenance, cuisine and more — caddie culture goes above and beyond.
For starters, hiring a looper isn’t optional. Wherever you play in South Korea, caddies are required. And passive pack mules they are not. Club selection? Sure. They help with that. Ditto divot and ball-mark repair. But they also double as bartenders, pouring drinks at their clients’ request; vocal cheerleaders, crying “Nice shot!” almost every time they see one; scorekeepers; and — get this — chauffeurs. In South Korea, walking the course is pretty much unheard of. Everyone takes carts, including caddies, who pilot foursomes around in a five-person buggies, with all the bags strapped to the back.
Almost without exception, these loopers are women, part of an increasingly professionalized workforce that has steadily expanded since the 1990s, when golf in South Korea began to boom. There are now upward of 500 courses in the country, nearly double the number from 20 years ago. And while certain caddie customs hold steady from one club to the next, not all looper programs are created equal. Some are more upscale and detail-oriented than others.
Take Haesley Nine Bridges as a case in point.
Situated on the outskirts of Seoul, Heasley ranks among the most prestigious courses in the country and boasts amenities to match. Overlooking its pristinely manicured championship course is a 170,000-square-foot modernist clubhouse, a three-story architectural marvel of glass walls, timber columns and traditional stone masonry.
In keeping with the resplendent infrastructure, the caddie program is as dialed-in as it gets. So is the on-course transport. Haesley loopers don’t drive ordinary golf carts. They drive what are known as “limousine” carts, which the club spent years designing. These first-of-their kind carts look and act like mini-luxury vehicles, with streamlined curves and a spate of refined features, including a sophisticated heating and cooling system (golfers in South Korea experience all four seasons) individualized cushioned seats and a wide, curved windshield for better viewing.
Never mind a good walk, spoiled. Golf at Haesley is a leisurely ride, improved.
To see these specialized carts in action — and learn more about South Korean caddie culture — check out this video.
